Patriots Reportedly Signing Wide Receivers Corey Coleman, Bennie Fowler (Updated)
The New England Patriots are adding some upside at the bottom of the wide receiver depth chart. They’re taking a flyer on former Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills wideout Corey Coleman, as first reported by Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network on Twitter.
Coleman couldn’t make Buffalo’s 53-man roster, finding himself in free agency after the Bills released him as part of their final cut-downs. The Browns originally traded Coleman, the 15th overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft, to the Bills for a 2020 seventh-round pick. He becomes the third former first-round receiver to find himself in New England, joining Phillip Dorsett (2015) and Cordarrelle Patterson (2014).
HBO depicted Coleman’s trade to Buffalo and the events leading up to it in the latest season of Hard Knocks. The wideout notably expressed discontent with Browns head coach Hue Jackson over playing with the second-stringers in practice, and ultimately asked to be traded.
Hopefully, Coleman realizes that he’s nowhere near the top of the depth chart upon his arrival in New England. Even for a receiver group in need of bodies, it’s still for players who will be behind Chris Hogan, Dorsett, and Patterson to start.
According to Field Yates, the Patriots are also signing former Broncos wide receiver Bennie Fowler. He spent the previous four seasons with the Denver Broncos, and 2018 training camp with the Chicago Bears. He’ll be able to contribute on special teams right away; Fowler played the fifth-most special teams snaps on the Broncos (227) last season.
— By Matt Dolloff, 985TheSportsHub.com
Matt Dolloff is a digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff or email him at [email protected].